From January 26-February 6, U.S. Embassy Dhaka held a Veterinary Subject Matter Expert Exchange seminar with the Border Guards Bangladesh (BGB),Chittagong focused on preventive medicine and trauma care for BGB working dogs and their handlers. The two-week seminar brought together 29 dog handlers,14 working dogs, and one Veterinarian Officer from nine GB Chittagong outstations to share their knowledge and personal experiences in working with their canine partners. Ensuring the health and proper care of the working dogs at outstations along Bangladesh’s border is critical to supporting and developing the capacity of the GB to secure Bangladesh’s border, safeguard the Bangladeshi people, counter violent extremism, and prevent drug trafficking.
Participants reviewed veterinary care case studies and took part in a series of lectures focused on canine healthcare. Participants also exchanged best practices on preventive medicine and discussed the risk of communicable diseases and parasites in dogs pose to humans. Every handler was also tested on his/her ability to treat common and trauma injuries, including how to properly apply tourniquets and bandages, treat for heat injuries, apply splints, and administer fluids to their working dogs.
The two-week Veterinary Subject Matter Expert Exchange seminar is one of the many initiatives of the U.S. government to promote greater collaboration and mutual understanding between Bangladesh and the United States. The United States is committed to its security relationship with Bangladesh, which helps ensure Bangladesh’s security as well as a free and open Indo-Pacific region.